Sheet-moistening device



Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES Z,lt3,,529

PATENT QFFIQE to Standard Mailing Machines Company,

Everett, Mass, at corporaticn of Massachusetts Application January 7,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for moistening sheets of paper or the like, and more particularly to a device for applying a film of fluid to one face of a sheet.

It is well known that in many arts, using paper or like material, it is necessary to prepare or condition the sheet for a subsequent operation. The so-called wet process art of duplicating is illustrative, as in this art it is the practice to moisten a clear sheet or the like on which a duplicate copy is to be made by feeding the clear moistened sheet into engagement, under pressure, with a master copy sheet having characters formed with a suitable copying ink.

In this referred to art of duplicating, as in other well known instances, the quantity of moisture applied to the clear sheet must be uniformly and evenly distributed over the surface of the sheet to be productive of the most efficient and desired results.

A duplicating machine using the above referred to wet process method, with the involved problem of uniformly moistening a clear sheet, is completely shown and described in my Patent Re.

19,951, issued April 28, 1936. As disclosed in this patent, I have found that uniform and satisfactory results may be obtained by using what I have chosen to term an intermediate applicator and with which the clear sheet is directly engaged and moistened thereby. Moisture is supplied to the intermediate applicator through the medium of a bibulous material that contacts with. the applicator. Fluid must be: supplied to the bibulous material from a fluid reservoir and preferably in a manner that eliminates a requirement minute and accurate adjustments or further skilled attention on the part of the operator.

Accordingly, one of the objects of my present invention is to provide a moistening device of a simple construction that will function with a minimum of attention.

A further object of my invention is to provide a moistening device having a fluid supply that is automatically effective in providing only a limited amount of moisture to an intermediate moisture applicator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fluid supply for a moistening device and having a capillary discharge portion effective to maintain the fluid supply air-locked when the dispcrtion is in either an operative or inoperative position.

With the above and other objects in. view, my invention comprises a novel combination. and ar- 1937, Serial No. 119,461

rangernent of parts hereinafter described and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In "the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a preferred form of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to understand the construction and operation thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig, 1 is a. transverse section through my moistening device.

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding substantially to Fig. 1, but shows some of the parts in their inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectionv of my fluid chamber as shown at Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of my moistening device taken substantially along line ii, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the parts substantially as shown at Fig. 4;, viewing in the direction of arrow at, same figure.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken. through my fluid chamber and shows a preferred form of my capillary discharge openings.

Fig. 7 is. a transverse section taken. substantially along line ?l, Fig. 4, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially along line 88, Fig. 4.

The intermediate moisture appZicator For the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment of my sheet moistening device, although not limited thereto, I have shown a rotatable intermediate moisture applicator roller l6 and a coacting pressure roller H. These rollers may be suitably mounted, as in the side frames l2, H of the machine, and rotated, for example, as described in my aforementioned patent. Moisture is applied to the roller H] as will be hereinafter more fully described, and the sheet to be moistened is engaged by and fed between the intermediate moisture applicator roller H1 and its coacting pressure roller it.

These rollers ID, I! and their functions. are clearly shown and described in. my above patent and, therefore, further detailed description is thought to be unnecessary.

The moisture conveyor To convey moisture to the intermediate moisture applicator roller l I], I prefer to use a bibulous material in. the form of a wick l3. This wick i3 is provided with opposed plates 54, 55 which may be resilient in character and lend rigidity to the body of the wick l3 itself. These plates l4, l5 extend lengthwise of the wick l3 and their upper longitudinal edges are spaced sufficiently from the upper longitudinal edge 53a of the wick to permit this edge of the wick to engage with the peripheral face of the roller ill.

The lower wick supporting plate Hi is secured, by means of studs it, to a cross-rod ll that is pivotally supported in the opposed side frames l2, l3. These studs l5 project through the body of the wick E3, the top plate and a longitudinally extending clamp bar it. The upper ends of the studs iii are threaded to receive thumb nuts H] which are adapted to secure the clamp bar l8 against shoulders 56a of the studs 46. This structure permits of an arrangement whereby the moistiue conveyor wick l3 may be conveniently removed and replaced.

The cross-rod ll is provided with a depending arm 28 which has one end of a tension spring 2| secured thereto. The opposed end of the tension, spring 2| is secured to a fixed stud 22. This tension spring acts to urge the upper edge l ia of the moisture conveying wick it into close engagement with the peripheral face of the intermediate moisture applicator roller is.

The fluid chamber In the present structure, the lower wick supporting plate I4 is provided with a substantially U-shaped portion i l-a that is adapted to rotatably support my fluid chamber 23 which, in this instance, is in the form of a tube having a closed end 23a and provided with capillary openings or slots 23?). These openings may be formed as slots, as illustrated, or as a series of openings of such size that the fluid will not normally flow therethrough.

This fluid chamber 23 has collars 24 secured thereto and each collar is provided with a stop pin 25 adapted to engage with the cross-rod H to position the capillarly slots 23b in operative engagement with a portion of the moisture conveyor wick l3, see Figs. 1, 3, 4 and '7. I have, in this instance, provided friction pressure plates 26 which are secured to the cross-rod l! and bear against the fluid chamber 23 in a manner that retards a free rotative movement of the fluid chamber 23.

The air-locked fluid supply An elbow 27 is secured to the open conduit end 230 of the fluid chamber 23 and is adapted to closely engage with the neck 25a of an enclosed fluid supply reservoir 28 and in a manner that permits the reservoir to be readily removed from its elbow connection for the purpose of replenishing the fluid supply or for other required purposes.

Operation When the moistening device is to remain idle for a period of time, the fluid chamber 23 is rotated until the fluid reservoir 28 is depending, as shown by broken lines at Fig. 2, and the capillary slots 231) are disengaged from their operative relation to the wick and, in the drawing, are shown positioned at the bottom of the fluid chamber. When the slots 232) are in this position, the wick 13 has no means for receiving a supply of moisture. With the parts in the above inoperative position, the reservoir 28 may be readily removed and replaced and thus spilling of the fluid is avoided during replenishment.

In operation, the reservoir 28 and elbow 21 are rotated to a substantially vertical position, see Fig. 1, and thus the fluid chamber 23 is rotated and the capillary slots 23b positioned in engagement with the wick l3. The capillary attraction of the bibulous wick l3 withdraws fluid through the openings 23b and conveys the moisture to the edge 13a. of the wick I3 which contacts with the intermediate moisture applicator roller it.

As the applicator roller I0 is rotated, a thin film of moisture is transferred to its peripheral face from the Wick and, as the sheet of paper or the like is passed between the rollers l0, II, this thin film is applied to the face of the sheet.

The present embodiment and specific construction of my moistening device is to be construed as illustrative, as obviously modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A sheet moistening device embodying a moisture applicator with means for supplying moisture to said applicator, said means including a fluid conduit with means for maintaining a maximum supply of fluid in said conduit, said fluid conduit having a capillary opening, above its horizontal axis, a super-imposed bibulous material above said conduit and in engagement with said capillary opening and said applicator and whereby the capillary action of said material withdraws moisture through said opening.

2. A sheet moistening device embodying a moisture applicator with means for supplying moisture to said applicator, said means including a bibulous material in engagement with said applicator and a capillary opening operatively disposed substantially below said bibulous material and in engagement with said material and whereby the capillary action of said material withdraws moisture from said capillary opening with means for supplying fluid to said capillary opening.

3. A sheet moistening device embodying a moisture applicator with means for supplying moisture to said applicator, said means including an air-locked fluid supply having a capillary discharge opening disposed above a portion of said fluid supply and connected thereto, a bibulous material adapted for engagement with said opening and said applicator and whereby the absorptive characteristic of said material withdraws fluid from said opening.

4. A sheet moistening device embodying a substantially airlocked fluid supply having a capillary discharge opening in a portion thereof and, when in operative position, disposed above the lowermost of said portion, a bibulous conveyor member in engagement with said opening and adapted to solely withdraw fluid therefrom, a moisture applicator in engagement with said member and disposed to receive a supply of moisture from said member 5. A sheet moistening device embodying a rotatable fluid conduit provided with a capillary discharge opening adapted to be operatively positioned above the lowermost of said conduit, said opening being of such size that fluid will not normally flow therethrough, a substantially airlocked fluid supply communicating with said conduit, a bibulous material disposed relative to said conduit with means for closely engaging said discharge opening with said bibulous material and whereby the absorptive characteristic of said material withdraws a supply of moisture through said opening against said airlock, a moisture applicator spaced apart from said conduit and in engagement with said bibulous material.

6. A sheet moistening device embodying a rotatable moisture applicator in engagement with a bibulous material with means for supplying moisture to said material, said means including a capillary discharge disposed below said material and of a size that fluid will not normally flow therethrough with means for positioning said discharge in operative engagement with said bibulous material and whereby the absorptive characteristic of said material, when in said operative engagement, withdraws fluid from said discharge in a manner to uniformly distribute 5 moisture to said material.

FREDERICK W. STOR/CK. 

